Sheet supply apparatus

ABSTRACT

A SHEET SUPPLY APPARATUS INCLUDES A SUPPORT FOR A WEB OF MATERIAL AND A DRIVE MEANS FOR ADVANCING THE WEB ALONG A PATH PAST A WEB CUTTING DEVICE. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ADVANCING WEB INTERRUPTS A LIGHT PATH BETWEEN A LIGHT SOURCE AND A LIGHT SENSITIVE ELEMENT. THE OPERATION OF A CONTINUOUSLY ADJUSTABLE TIME DELAY RELAY IS INITIATED WHEN THE LIGHT PATH IS BROKEN, AND AFTER A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME THE WEB IS STOPPED AND CUT THEREBY TO SEVER A SHEET OF DESIRED LENGTH FROM THE WEB. THE APPARATUS CAN ALSO CARRY OUT A MULTIPLE SHEET SUPPLY OPERATION WHEREIN A PRESELECTED NUMBER OF SHEETS OF A DESIRED LENGTH IS SUPPLIED.

NOV. 2, 1971 A, J, Dl GlULlQ EI'AL 3,616,718

SHEET SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed June 30. 1969 32 30 MQ# ,is zo 38 QQ 2.0 fgmi2 2f we 26 g2 gg g8 M541 @am #img/Mw@ United States Patent O 3,616,718SHEET SUPPLY APPARATUS Albert J. Di Giulio and Frank B. Naujokas,Arlington Heights, Ill., assignors to Addressograph-MultigraphCorporation, Mount Prospect, Ill.

Filed June 30, 1969, Ser. No. 837,806 Int. Cl. B26d 5/40 U.S. Cl. 83-2104 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sheet supply apparatus includes asupport for a web of material and a drive means for advancing the webalong a path past a web cutting device. The leading edge of theadvancing web interrupts a light path between a light source and a lightsensitive element. The operation of a continuously adjustable time delayrelay is initiated when the light path is broken, and after apredetermined period of time the web is stopped and cut thereby to severa sheet of desired length from the web. The apparatus can also carry outa multiple sheet supply operation wherein a preselected number of sheetsof a desired length is supplied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to sheetsupply apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus for severingsheets of selected lengths from a web of sheet material.

In connection with various types of sheet utilizing apparatus such asautomatic copy making machines and the like it is desirable to supplycopy sheet material in the form of a web and to sever individual copysheets of diiferent lengths from the web as needed. This approach hasadvantages over apparatus of the type adapted to supply individualsheets from stacks of Sheets because when a web is used sheets ofdifferent lengths may be conveniently supplied without changing thesupply of sheets. In Patent No. 3,418,047, issued on Dec. 24, 1968 toRichard G. Lee et al. there is disclosed an automatic copy makingmachine including sheet supply apparatus capable of supplying sheets ofvarious selected lengths from a web of copy sheet material. In thearrangement there disclosed, a manually operated switch is movable to adiscrete number of positions, each of Which represents a particular copysheet size. The web of sheet Imaterial is advanced past a cutter untilthe leading edge of the web engages and operates a switch correspondingto the selected size, at which time the web is stopped and an individualcopy sheet of the desired length is severed from the end of the web.Although the sheet supply apparatus disclosed in the above-identiedpatent has proven highly satisfactory for its intended purposes, itwould be desirable to provide a sheet supply apparatus capable ofsupplying sheets of any desired length without the necessity for aseries of switches operated by physical contact with the advancing web.

Among the important objects of the present invention are to provide animproved sheet supply apparatus suitable for use with automatic copymaking machines and with other sheet utilizing equipment; to provide asheet supply apparatus capable of providing sheets of any desired lengthand not limited to a plurality of discrete sheet sizes; to provide asheet supply apparatus wherein interference with the movement of the webis minimized; and to provide an improved sheet supply apparatus which isboth simple and economical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the above and other objects of thepresent invention may be realized through the provision of a 3,616,718Patented Nov. 2., 1971 'ice sheet supply apparatus including a supportfor a web of sheet material and drive means for advancing the web ofmaterial along a path away from the support. A cutter assembly isdisposed along the path and serves to sever individual sheets from theweb. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, a lightsource and a light sensitive device are located along the path onopposite sides of the advancing web, and when the leading edge of theweb interrupts the light path, a control circuit including a time delayrelay device serves to operate the cutting assembly after apredetermined time delay period in order to sever a single sheet ofdesired length. The time delay period of the time delay relay device ismanually adjustable in a continuous fashion between maximum and minimumtime settings so that the apparatus can supply sheets of any desiredlength between the maximum length and the minimum length.

The invention together with its objects and advantages may best beunderstood from consideration of the following detailed description ofthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing.v

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is 'a diagrammatic illustration ofsheet feeding apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the circuit for controlling thesheet supply apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Having reference now to thedrawing, FIG. 1 illustrates in diagrammatic fashion a sheet supplyapparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention and designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10. Thesheet supply apparatus 10, for example, may be used with an automaticcopying machine or other sheet utilization device, and serves to severindividual sheets of desired lengths from a web 12 of sheet materialconveniently provided in the` form of a roll 14. For example, the sheetmaterial may comprise copy sheet material of any suitable nature uponwhich copies are to be produced of lgraphic originals of various sizesby an electrostatic or other process.

In general, the sheet supply apparatus 10 includes a support 16 for theroll 14 of sheet material, together with a drive system generallydesignated as 18 for advancing the web 12 away from the support 16 alonga path which may be dened in part by suitable guides 20 and 22. Thedrive system 18 includes a drive motor 24 drivingly coupled to a sheetdrive roller 26 by means of an electromagnetically operated clutch 28.The web 12 is advanced between the drive roller 26 and a pressure roller30. An electromagnetically operated brake 32 is coupled between thedrive roller 26 and a fixed portion of the housing of the apparatus 10for preventing rotation of the roller 26 thereby to stop the movement ofthe web 12. An add paper switch 34 normally held in an operatedcondition by contact with the web 12 provides an indication when thesupply of web material 12 becomes exhausted.

In order to cut the web 12 and sever individual sheets from the web, theapparatus 10 includes a cutting assembly designated as a whole by thereference numeral 36 disposed along the path of movement of the web 12.The cutting assembly 36 includes a rotatable assembly 38 supporting amovable cutting blade 40 normally spaced from and engageable with astationary cutting blade 42. Movement is imparted to the rotatableassembly 38 by means of a mechanical linkage represented in theillustrated embodiment of the invention as a lever 44. The assembly 38is normally held in its illustrated position by means of -a spring 46,and in this position the advancing web is free to move between theblades 40 and 42 and beyond the cutter assembly 36. In order to operatethe cutter assembly, a cutter solenoid 48 is energized to move the lever44 against the force of the spring 46 and rotate the assembly 38 tobring the movable cutting blade 40 into engagement with the stationarycutting blade 42. For purposes described hereinafter, a cutter switch Sis operated in response to rotation of the assembly 38 by the cuttersolenoid 48.

In accordance with important features of the present invention, thesheet supply apparatus is controlled automatically to produce copysheets of any desired length between pre-set minimum and maximumlengths. Advantageously, the automatic sheet supply operation does notrequire the presence of a plurality of separate switches operated byphysical contact with moving web 12, but rather is carried out under thecontrol of a single sensing arrangement comprising a light source 52 anda light sensitive device 54 disposed on opposite sides of the path ofmovement of the web 12. As described in further detail hereinafter,there is provided an adjustable time delay device for operating thecutter assembly 36 a predetermined time after the leading edge of theweb 12 interrupts the light path between the light source 52 and thedevice 54. Consequently, it is possible to use only a single sensingarrangement rather than a plurality of sensing switches. Furthermore,since the sensing arrangement of the present invention does not requirephysical contact with the web 12, interference with the movement of theweb is minimized.

In order to control the operation of the sheet supply apparatus 10 toprovide either a single sheet or a predetermined number of sheets ofselected length, there is provided a control circuit designated as awhole by the reference numeral 60 and illustrated in schematic form inFIG. 2. The control circuit 60 includes a pair of power supply terminals62 and 64 adapted to be connected to a source of AC supply eitherdirectly or under the control of a control circuit associated with anautomatic copy making machine or other sheet utilization equipment withwhich the sheet supply apparatus 10 is used.

More specifically, the circuit 60 includes a relatively low voltage DCnetwork 66 supplied by a full wave rectiiier circuit 68, the network 66including the operating coil of the electromagnetic clutch 28. In orderto assure rapid operation of both the brake 32 and the cutter assembly38, the operating coils of the electromagnetic brake 32 and of thecutter solenoid 48 are included in a relatively high voltage DC network70 supplied by a rectifier circuit 72.

The circuit 60 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the initial or standbycondition ready to supply a single sheet or multiple Isheets. In theinitial condition, a circuit is completed for energization of a feedlamp 74 providing an indication that a sheet supply operation may becommenced. In addition, a circuit is completed for the energization ofthe Winding of a relay 76 associated with a time delay circuit generallydesignated as 78. Consequently, a pair of normally open relay contacts76A are maintained in their closed conditioned, and a pair of normallyclosed relay contacts 76B are maintained in their open condition. Thusin the standby condition the windings of the electromagnetic clutch 28,the electromagnetic brake 32 and the cutter solenoid 48 are alldeenergized, and the web is stationary in the supply apparatus 10.

When it is desired to supply a single sheet from the web 12, the sheetsupply operation is commenced by momentarily depressing a start switch80. Closure of switch 80 completes a circuit for energization of thewinding of a web feed relay 82 thereby to open a normally closed set ofrelay contacts 82A and to close a normally open set of contacts 82B.Closure of contacts 82B completes a holding circuit for maintaining therelay 82 energized despite the fact that the switch 80 closes onlymomentarily. Although opening of the relay contacts 82A dis- 4 continuesthe circuit for energization of the relay 76, the relay 76 is maintainedin an energized condition throughout a predetermined time delay periodby the voltage existing across a capacitor 84 of the time delay circuit78.

Energization of the web feed relay 82 also results in opening of anormally closed set of relay contacts 82C to disconnect the circuit forenergization of the indicator lamp 74. Simultaneous closure of anormally open set of contacts 82D completes a circuit for energizationof the winding of the electromagnetic clutch 28. As a result, a drivecoupling is completed between the drive motor 24 and the drive roller 26whereupon the web 12 is fed from the roll 14 through the cutter assembly36.

The light sensitive device 54 may comprise a light sensiti've varia-bleresistance device having a resistance characteristic variable inrelation to the level of incident light. Initially, the device 54 isfully illuminated by the light source 52 and is in a high resistancecondition. After the web 12 has been advanced from the cutter assembly36 to the device 54, its leading edge interrupts the light path betweenthe light source 52 and the light sensitive device 54. At this time, theresistance level of the light sensitive device 54 drops abruptly to alow value, thereby to energize the winding of a relay 86 illustrated asconnected in series circuit relation with the device 54. It Will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art that other circuitarrangements may be used for controlling the energization of the relay86 in accordance with the level of incident light striking the device54.

Upon energization of the relay l86 when the leading edge of theadvancing web 12l interrupts the light path between the light source 52and the device 54, a normally open set of relay contacts 86A are closedto complete a circuit to begin the operation of a time delay relaydevice illustrated in block form in broken lines and designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 88. The time delay relay device 88includes the winding of a relay 90 together with a time delay circuitarrangement including a variable resistor 92. The time delay relaydevice 88 may be any commercially available device such as a solid statetime delay relay commercially available from Clare Electroseal Corp. ofDes Plaines, Ill. The operation of the device 88 is such that a timedelay period having a duration determined bythe setting of the variableresistor 92 takes place between the time the circuit is completed forenergization of the device 88 and the time the winding of relay 90 isenergized.

Due to the use of the time delay relay device 88, it is possible toprovide individual sheets of any desired length using only the singleweb position sensing structure including the light source 52 and thelight sensitive device 54. Since the resistor 92 is continuouslyadjustable, it is possible to provide sheets of continuously Variablelengths between a minimum length and a maximum length.

Returning now to the description of the operation of the circuit 60 inproducing a single copy, after the light path between the light source52 and the light sensitive device 54 is interrupted, the time delayperiod of predetermined duration takes place during which period the web-12 continues to advance past the cutter assembly 36. When the timedelay period expires, a normally closed set of relay contacts 490A aremoved to the open condition to interrupt the circuit for energization ofthe winding of the electromagnetic clutch 28. Simultaneously, a normallyopen set of contacts 90B are closed in order to complete a circuit forenergization of the winding of the electromagnetic brake 32 and thewinding of the cutter solenoid 48. Consequently, the web is stopped witha predetermined length of web having passed the cutter assembly, and thecutter assembly is operated to sever the web to provide an individualsheet.

Operation of the cutter assembly when a single sheet is'to be suppliedserves to return the circuit 62 to its initial standby condition. Morespecifically, operation of the cutter assembly 36 serves to operate thecutter switch 50 to its alternate position, thereby to inerrupt thecircuit for holding the web feed relay 76 in an energized condition. Asa result, the contacts `82A reclose and the contacts 82B open todiscontinue the holding circuit for the relay 82, which remainsdeenergized even after the cutting assembly 36 returns to its initialcondition. In addition, the contacts 82D interrupt the circuit forenergization of the winding of the electromagnetic clutch 28 so that thecluch remains deenergized afer deenergization of the relay winding 90.Contacts 82C reclose to prepare a circuit for the energization of theindicator lamp 74.

When the individual sheet severed by the cutting assembly 36 from theweb 12 is advanced from the apparatus by suitable means (not shown)associated with a sheet utilization device or the like, the light pathbetween the light source 52 and the light sensitive device 54 isreestablished, at which time the light sensitive device 54 returns toits high resistance condition thereby discontinuing the energization ofthe winding of relay 86. Consequently, contacts 86A reopen interruptingthe circuit for energization of the time delay device 88. As a result,contacts 90B move to their open condition discontinuing the circuit forenergization of the windings of the brake 32 and the solenoid 48, whilecontacts 90A are once again closed to energize the indicator lamp 74 andto reestablish the circuit for energization of the clutch 28 uponreoperation of the feed switch 80. It should be noted that when relaycontacts 82A reclose, the capacitor 84 associated with time delaycircuit 78 is once again returned to a full charge level by a chargingcurrent owing through a resistor 94 so that relay 76 remains in itsenergized condition.

As indicated above, the sheet supply apparatus 10 of the presentinvention is capable of supplying a predetermined number of sheets ofany desired length. The control circuit 60 includes a multiple Sheetsection generally designated as 96, and a multiple sheet supplyoperation is initiated by closing a multiple sheet switch 98. A suitablemanually operated multiple sheet selector control (not shown) isassociated with the switch 98. In its normal or home position, thecontrol maintains the switch 98 in its open condition so that singlesheets are supplied. When the control is moved away from its homeposition to a position corresponding to a selected number of sheets tobe supplied, the switch 98 is closed and is maintained closed until thecontrol returns to its home position. Apparatus including a steppingsolenoid 100 is provided for stepping the manually operated control onestep toward its home position each time a sheet is supplied during amultiple sheet operation.

When the multiple sheet switch y98 is closed to begin a multiple sheetsupply operation, a circuit is completed for energization of the windingof a multiple sheet relay 102'. Consequently, a normally open set ofrelay contacts 102A are moved to their closed condition, therebycompleting a circuit for energization of the web feed relay 82, and asheet is supplied in much the same manner as described above inconnection with the supply of a single sheet.

More specifically, energization of relay 82 results in opening of relaycontacts 82A and 82C and simultaneous closing of relay contacts 82B and82D, whereupon feeding of the web 12 through the cutter assembly 38 isbegun. When the advancing web interrupts the light path between thelight source 52 and the light sensitive device 54, the relay 86 isenergized and contacts 86A close to initiate the adjustable time delayperiod. When the winding of relay 90 is energized at the end of thedelay period, contacts 90A open to energize the winding of theelectromagnetic clutch 28, while contacts 90B close to operate the brake32 and the cutter solenoid 48 whereupon a sheet is severed from the web12 and delivered from the apparatus 10.

At this time, an additional normally open set of relay contacts 90Cclose to energize the stepping solenoid 100 and return the manualselector control one step toward its home lposition. In addition, anormally closed set of relay contacts D are opened so that the closedcontacts 102A are incapable of immediately reenergizing the winding ofthe web feed relay 82 when the cutter switch 50 returns to its closedcondition.

When the sheet severed from the web 12 is moved from the sheet supplyapparatus 10 and clears the light path between the light source 52 andthe light sensitive device 54, the winding of relay 86 is deenergizedand contacts `86A return to their open position thus deenergizing thewinding of relay 90. At this time, contacts 90A reclose to prepare acircuit for operation of the winding of clutch 28 when the relay 82 isenergized, and contacts 90B open to deenergize the windings of the brake32 and the cutter solenoid 48. Contacts 90C reopen to deenergize thestepping solenoid 100, and contacts 90D reclose. Closing of the contacts90D serves to initiate another cycle of operation by completing acircuit through the closed cutter switch 50 and contacts 102A forenergization of the web feed relay 82.

The supplying of individual sheets continues in this manner until thefinal sheet of the selected number of sheets is supplied at which timethe stepping solenoid returns the manual selector control to its homeposition and the multiple sheet switch 98 is returned to its opencondition to deenergize the winding of relay 102. Consequently, at theend of the operation of feeding of the final sheet, the circuit 60 isreturned to its illustrated initial condition wherein either a singlesheet or a number of sheets may be supplied.

In many applications it may be desirable to limit the possible sheetsize by an independent circuit not affected by the adjustable time delaydevice 88. For example, if sheets are fed to an automatic copyingmachine, the maximum sheet size may be determined by the capabilities 0fthe machine. It is desirable to limit the sheet size to a predeterminedlimit in case of interference with or malfunction of the sheet sizeadjusting arrangement including the light source S2, the light sensitivedevice 54, and the time delay device 88. In the illustrated arrangement,this is accomplished by means of the time delay circuit 66 controllingthe relay 76.

More specifically, in normal operation the contacts I82A of the web feedrelay -82 remain open throughout the period of time beginning with thefeeding of the web 12 and ending with the operation of the cutterassembly 36 when the cutter switch 50 opens. The time delay device y88is preferably arranged so that the sheet length is variable betweenlimits no longer than the maximum acceptable sheet size. In the eventthat the device 88 fails to operate, or that the light sensitive device54 is exposed to an extraneous light source or the like, relay 90 doesnot operate to discontinue feeding of the web 12 and to sever a sheetfrom the web.

The time delay characteristics of the circuit including the winding ofrelay 76 and the capacitor 84 are such that relay 76 becomes deenergizedwhen the maximum sheet length has passed the cutter assembly 36. At thistime, contacts 76B move to their normally closed position to operate thebrake 32 and the cutter solenoid 48. As a result, the web is immediatelysevered, and the cutter switch 50 is opened to terminate the sheetsupply operation and return the control circuit to its initialcondition. If the time delay circuit 78 should operate during a multiplesheet supply operation, the contacts 76A return to their normally opencondition to deenergize the multiple sheet relay 102 and halt themultiple sheet supply operation. After the cause of the excess sheetlength has been determined, the multiple sheet operation continueswithout the necessity for resetting the manual selector control.

In the event the supply of web 12 becomes exhausted at any time, theswitch 34 is operated to interrupt the circuit for energization of theclutch 28 and the indicator 74. In addition, operation of the switch 34serves to complete a circuit for energization of an indicator lamp 104providing an indicationto the operator that additional web material mustbe supplied.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable manually to feed the web 12from the roll 14. In order to accomplish a manual feeding operation, aswitch 106 is closed to energize the windingv of a manual feed relay108. A normally closed set of relay contacts 108A open to interrupt thepower supply to the rectifier 72 to the end that the brake 32 and cuttersolenoid 48 are disabled. Simultaneously, a normally closed set of relaycontacts 108B are opened to disable the clutch 28 together with theautomatic sheet feeding circuitry, and the web 12 may be advancedmanually from the roll 14.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. Apparatus for providing individual sheets from a web supply of sheetmaterial comprising a roll supply of said web material, means foradvancing the web along a path away from said roll at a xed speedcomprising a set of rollers in frictional engagement with one another,one of said rollers being coupled to drive means through electromagneticclutch and brake means for respectively advancing the web along the pathaway from said roll and stopping the web, a sensing device located at apoint along said web for sensing the presence of the lead edge of theweb at said point as it advances along the path, a solenoid actuatedcutter assembly disposed along said path between the feed rolls and saidsensing device for severing a sheet from the web, a rst time delaycontrol circuit which is energized in response to the sensed presence ofthe lead edge of the sheet by said sensing device, said control circuitincluding a lvariable resistor for manually adjusting the time delay toa rst period of time and a second time delay control circuit which isactuated after a period of time greater than said rst period of timewhereby the length of the sheet to be cut can be varied not to exceed alength governed by said second time control circuit, and power supplymeans for applying a high D.C. voltage to said electromagnetic brake,and solenoid means for respectively stopping said drive roller andoperating said cutter assembly in order to assure rapid operation ofsaid brake and cutter assembly whereby the variation in size of thesheets severed from said web is minimized.

2. The system of claim 1, said adjustable means being continuouslyvariable between positions corresponding to maximum and minimum sheetlengths.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said sensing device comprising alight sensitive device disposed on one side of the path of movement ofthe web, and a light source disposed on the opposite side of the path ofmovement of the web.

4. Apparatus for providing the automatic feeding of a predeterminednumber of individual sheets from a web supply of sheet materialcomprising a roll supply of said web material, means for advancing theweb along a path away from said roll at a xed speed comprising a set ofrollers in frictional engagement with one another, one

of said rollers being coupled to drive means through electromagneticclutch and brake means for respectively advancing the web along a pathaway from said roll and stopping the web, a sensing device located at apoint along said web for sensing the presence of the lead edge of theweb at said point as it advances along the path, a solenoid actuatedcutter assembly disposed along said path between the feed rolls and saidsensing device for severing a sheet from the lweb after it is stopped, airst time delay control circuit Which is energized in response to thesensed presence of the lead edge of the sheet by said sensing device,said control circuit including a variable resistor for manu-` allyadjusting said time delay to a first period of time and a second timedelay control circuit which is actuated after a period of time greaterthan said first period of time whereby the length of the sheet to be cutcan be varied not to exceed a length governed by said second timecontrol circuit count recording means preset to record saidpredetermined number of sheets being responsive to the energization ofthe cutter for recording the severing of a sheet length from the web,control means responsive to the energization of the count recordingmeans for reenergizing said drive means, power supply means for applyinga high DC voltage to said electromagnetic brake and solenoid means forrespectively operating said drive roller and cutter assembly in order toassure rapid operation of said brake and cutter whereby variations insize of sheets severed from said web is minimized, said sequence ofcutting and feeding continuing until said predetermined number of sheetsis recorded in said count recording means.

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